A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
ANd when it was determined that we ſhould ſail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other priſoners, to one named Julius, a Centurion of Auguſtus band. 2. And entering into a ſhip of Adramytrium, we lanched, meaning to fail by the coaſt of Aſia, one Ariſtarhcus a Macedonian, of Theſſalonica, being with us. 3. And the next day we touched at Sidon and Julius courteouſly entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refreſh himſelf.
3. Heathen Soldiers are leſſe cruel than Jewiſh ſuperſtitious Prieſts and Hypocrites.
4. And when we had lanched from thence we ſailed under Cyprus, becauſe the windes were contrary. 5. And when we had ſailed over the ſea of Cilicia & Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a citie of Lyſia. 6. And there the Centurion found a ſhip of Alexandria ſailing into Italy, and he put us therein. 7. And when we had ſailed ſlowly many days, and ſcarce were come over againſt Cuidus, the wind, not ſuffering us, we ſailed under Creet, over againſt Salmone. 8. And hardly paſſing it, came unto a place which is called the fair havens, nigh whereunto was the city of Laſea.
Note, God cauſed theſe difficulties to manifeſt his merciful Providence.
9. Now when much time was ſpent: and when ſailing was now dangerous, becauſe the faſt was now already paſt, Paul admoniſhed them. 10. And ſaid unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage, will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ſhip, but alſo of our lives.
9. At the time of the Jews yearly Faſt of Expiation which was in part of our October, ſailing uſed to be very dangerous on thoſe Seas.
11. Nevertheleſs, the Centurion believed the maſter and the owner of the ſhip, more then thoſe things which were ſpoken by Paul 12. And becauſe the Haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part adviſed to depart thence alſo, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter, which is an Haven of Creet, and lieth toward the South-weſt, and North-weſt.
12. Note, Phaenice a Haven-Town is deſcribed to diſtinguiſh it from the Country called Phaenice.
13. And when the South-wind blew ſoftly, ſuppoſing that they had obtained their purpoſe looſing thence they ſailed cloſe by Creet. 14. But not long after there aroſe againſt it a tempeſtuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15. And when the ſhip was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16. And runing under a certain Iſland which is called Clauda we had much work to come by the boat? 17. Which when they had taken up, they uſed helps, under girding the ſhip, and fearing leſt they ſhould fall into the quickſands, ſtrake ſail, and ſo were driven. 18. And being exceedingly toſſed with a tempeſt, the next day they lightened the ſhip 19. And the third day we caſt out with our own hands the takling of the ſhip.
Note. They caſt away all to ſave themſelves: All that a man hath will he give for his life. And yet the ungodly ſell their ſouls for nothing.
20. And when neither ſun nor ſtars in many days appeared, and no ſmall tempeſt lay on us, all hope that we ſhould be ſaved was then taken away.
20. All hope that could be grounded on viſible probability.
21. But after long abſtinence, Paul ſtood forth in the midſt of them, and ſaid, Sirs, ye ſhould have hearkned unto me, and not have looſed from Creet, and to have gained this harm and loſſe.
21. To have eſcaped this loſs.
22. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there ſhall be no loſſe of any mans life among you, but of the ſhip. 23. For there ſtood by me this night the angel of God, whoſe I am, and whom I ſerve 24. Saying, Fear not Paul, thou muſt be brought before Ceſar, and lo, God hath given thee all them that ſail with thee.
23. Note, 1. God uſeth his Angel for the ſafety and comfort of his Servants. 2. Paul mentioneth God in his Relations to us. 1. He is our Owner, whoſe we are: 2. Our Ruler [whom we ſerve] and its implyed, Our Father, and Protector, In whom we truſt.
3. Many bad Men fare the better, for one good Man that is among them.
25. Wherefore Sirs, be of good chear: for I beleeve God, that it ſhall be even as it was told me. 26. Howbeit, we muſt be caſt upon a certain Iſland.
25. I truſt my God and would have you truſt him.
27. But when the fourteenth Night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria about midnight, the ſhipmen deemed that they drew neer to ſome country. 28. And ſounded, and found it twentie fathoms, and when they had gone a little further, they ſounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29. Then fearing leaſt we ſhould have fallen upon rocks, they caſt four ancres out of the ſtern, and wiſhed for the day.
29. They ſtopt the Ship and durſt go on further.
30. And as the ſhipmen were about to flee out of the ſhip, when they had let down the boat into the ſea: under colour as though they would caſt Anchors out of the foreſhip. 31. Paul ſaid to the Centurion and to the ſouldiers, Except theſe abide in the ſhip, ye cannot be ſaved.
30. Note, God that decreed that they ſhould not periſh, decreed alſo that the skilful Seamen ſhould abide in the Ship▪ Means and End are in the ſame decree.
32. Then the ſoldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off; 33. And while the day was coming on Paul beſought them all to take meat, ſaying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued faſting, having taken nothing. 34. wherefore I pray you to take ſome meat, for this is for your health: for there ſhall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
33. Note, Not that they had eat nothing in fourteen days: But ſay ſome Expoſitors, no ſet meal, or ſo little as was next to nothing; But others more probably ſay [you have eaten nothing all this (one) day, expecting the fourteenth day as Critical.
35. And when he had thus ſpoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in preſence of them all, and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
35. Note, If thoſe in England that ſcorn at open Thanſgiving to God even at Noble Tables and great Feaſts, (and think it deſerveth a Priſon for more than four to be preſent at ſuch a Religious Exerciſe) had been in this Ship, or in Jonas's fear might have taught them better.
36. Then were they all of good cheer, and they alſo took ſome meat. 37. And we were in all in the ſhip, two hundred threeſcore and ſixteen ſouls.
37. Note, And though Paul Preacht to them, the honeſt Heathens accuſed him not for a Conventicle; what ſhall we think the Prieſts would have done had they been now among them.
38. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ſhip, and caſt out the wheat into the ſea.
38. Note, Even future proviſion is caſt away to ſave life at preſent. That is a duty in ſuch a caſe of neceſſity; which in other caſes would have been a great ſin.
39. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they diſcovered a certain Creek with a ſhore, into the which they were minded, if it were poſſible, to thruſt in the ſhip. 40. And when they had taken up the ancres, they committed themſelves unto the Sea, and looſed the Rudder bands, and and hoyſed up the main ſail to the wind, and made toward the ſhore. 41. And ſaling into a place where two Seas meet, they ran the ſhip a ground, and the fore-part ſtuck faſt, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
39. This was a ſhallow near a neck of Land called an Iſtmus where the Sea is on both ſides it. The Malthaſſes call it to this day St. Paul's Landing place.
42. And the Souldiers Council was to kill the Priſoners, leſt any of them ſhould ſwim out, and eſcape.
42. Note, Leſt they ſhould have been puniſhed for letting them eſcape, they would have killed them.
43. But the Centurion willing to ſave Paul, kept them from their purpoſe, and commanded that they which could ſwim, ſhould caſt themſelves firſt into the Sea, and get to land. 44. And the reſt, ſome on boards and ſome on broken pieces of the ſhip, and ſo it came to paſs that they eſcaped all ſafe to land.
4. Note, God gave them their lives for a prey.